Mac OS X & Software Tutorials – APPLETUTS - Easy step by step tutorials

To open the system preferences please move your mouse to the top left corner and clicking the Apple logo in order to open a new menu.

In this menu, you will find the System Preferences button , click this.

After clicking the System Preferences button, the system preferences menu will popup.

Now you will see a whole bunch of setting types, but for this tutorial we need to enter the Sharing settings.

So just click the Sharing icon to edit those settings.

In order for other users to reach your computer, its needs an IP Address or a Computer Name. A name is much easier to remember then a IP, so lets give it a nice name. You could use your personal name, or the name of your company, just anything you want. When you have entered your new computer name, press Edit…

Now on the left side of the Sharing window, you will see all kind of services, we will explain all other services in other tutorials, so lets just focus on File Sharing. To enable File Sharing, click on the checkbox infront of the service.

You will now see a green light on the right, that indicates that file sharing has been enabled.

Below that you will see 2 columns, Shared Folders and Users. So lets share a folder shall we.

Click the + button below the Shared Folders column to add a folder.

When you clicked the add button ( + ), a new dialog will popup, where you can select a folder you would like to share, for example your movies folder.

Just click the folder once, and hit add.

Now that the folder is added, we can add users and give them permission to the folder.

By default, the main user account will have full access (Read & Write) and the “Group” Everyone will have no rights.

Now let’s say we want everyone to have access to our movies folder, just click the arrows next to the permission and change it.

You will have 4 permission rights.

1: Read & Write :: Other users can read the directory and can add/edit and delete files.

2: Read Only :: Other users can read the directory and get files from that directory, but can’t add any files.

3: Write Only :: This means other users can only add files, but not read the directory, so they have to drop files onto that folders, thats why its called a drop box.

4: No Access :: This means that this user or group has no access to that folder.

We enabled file sharing, added a folder, and changed the permission of that folder. Were almost done!

As you can see there is also a Options… button on the Sharing Preferences window. When you click this a new window will popup where you can change some extra options, like the connection types.

Share files and folders using AFP

AFP is the default connection and transfer type for mac, its a secure and fast transfer method.

Share files and folders using FTP

If you think AFP isnt fast enough, you can always try FTP, this increases the transfer rate, but logins and files you transfer will not be encrypted.

Share files and folders using SMB

SMB is a handy way to allow Windows users connect, you will need to add and enable a user account for this though.

Its a easy way to share, but its stores the password is a less secure manner.

Just a mac user? Stay with AFP

The sharing preferences window also shows you how to connect from another mac or pc.

If you enter this into the Finder -> Connect to server field, the connection will be made.

Besides that, you can also use the sidebar in the finder, just click the correct mac in the network, and you will be able to see all shared folders of this user.